Winning Your Way To The WSOP
Finding the best option for your discounted trip to Vegas can be daunting, so we’ve eliminated some of the white noise to get you the information you need to satellite into the World Series of Poker. Next step: start packing your bags. Viva Las Vegas!
BODOG
Bodog is running a satellite series that they’ve aptly named Cheap Seat Tournaments. In their $1 plus rebuys qualifi er you can win a seat in their Main Event Quarterfi nal, with one seat awarded for every $29 in the prize pool. They run every day, twice a day at 11:15pm and 12:00 noon EST. There is also a non-rebuy version for $1.50 that runs twice daily at 2:20am and 3:15am. Sit-n-go semifi nal qualifi ers run around the clock for $14.50+$.50 and fi rst place gains entry to the Main Event Last Chance satellite.
If cash is short, you can qualify for the Main Event Quarterfi nal with the 100 point satellite. If you choose to bypass the Cheap Seat and SNG series you can still play in the Main Event Semifi nal tournaments. One WSOP Main Event seat will be awarded for every 48 entries in the $250+$20 tournament on top of four already guaranteed seats.
ABSOLUTE & ULTIMATEBET
CEREUS is running WSOP Main Event qualifi ers and satellites from both sites, UltimateBet and Absolute Poker. UltimateBet celebrates their tenth anniversary by offering two different ways to qualify for the Main Event at the WSOP. They have a step tournament format, with a total of ten steps for their WSOP Main Event qualifi er, and a “Beat the Brat” contest.
If you knockout Phil Hellmuth in any of their $30+$3 tournaments every Tuesday in May you will win a seat in their fi fty seat WSOP guarantee tournament that takes place June 21st at 5:30pm EST.
Absolute Poker is running a step tournament series similar to UB. Every Sunday the site has their Super Sunday Satellite that can be bought in to directly for $500+$30. At least one $12k package will be awarded each week. UltimateBet and Absolute Poker are also adding a special incentive to any player that wins their seat from either of the CEREUS brands. If you should happen to win the Main Event they will pay you a $10 million bonus.
DOYLE’S ROOM
Doyle’s Room not only wants to send you the Main Event at this year’s WSOP, they want to give the 2009 WSOP experience. Not only will the site pay the $10,000 entry fee and provide $3,000 for travel and accommodations, you will have an experience no other online site can offer. Winners will have a private strategy session with Mike “The Mad Genius” Caro, a private dinner with Doyle Brunson and Team Brunson VIPs, full access to all Team Brunson and Doyle’s Room events, and a personally autographed Super System two volume leather-bound book set.
For MTT players, four daily qualifi ers are held for two Gold Chips, ten Gold Chips, $5+$.50, and $20+$2. The two Gold Chip tournament awards seven seats in the Main Event Semifi nal and the ten Gold Chip awards fi ve seats in the Main Event Final. The $5+$.50 awards a $75 seat in the Main Event Semifi nal and the $20+$2 awards a seat to the Main Event Final. The Main Event Semifi nal is each Sunday at 1pm EST. The Main Event Final is held at 4pm EST on Sunday as well.
SNG players have a step satellite series that starts at $7.50 for the fi rst step. First- and secondplace fi nishers will get to a Step 2, which is a $30 buy-in SNG. First and second place fi nishers will move onto the third step, which is a $110 buy-in. The top two fi nishers in the third step will move onto the Main Event Final held on Sundays.
FULL TILT
Full Tilt Poker has several ways they plan to send their players to the World Series of Poker. The site is offering a 150- seat guarantee event awarding packages worth $12,000. You can directly buy in to the tournament that takes place on Sunday, June 21st at 6pm for $500+$35 or you can satellite your way in through Full Tilt Points, freerolls, or as little as $1.
If you’re a fi rst-time depositor on the site or you refer a friend you’ll receive a direct entry to one of four daily Round 2 freerolls to make the big qualifi er. They are also offering a shootout format MTT three times daily at 3:30pm EST, 8:30pm EST, and 9:30pm EST. One $12k Main Event package will be awarded for each 81-player tournament with a buy-in of $200+$16.
In addition to the 500 players Full Tilt plans to send to the Main Event, they have added a special incentive. If you earn your seat through the site and win the Main Event, Full Tilt will award a bonus of $10 million.
POKERSTARS
The site that has sent more players to the Main Event than any other has rolled up their sleeves and come up with three different ways for its players to qualify for the WSOP. These can be easily found from the main lobby by clicking the events tab and selecting WSOP.
Daily satellites from $2 up to $225 can be found. Both MTT and SNG satellites are offered, as well as shootouts. A weekly qualifi er on Sunday evenings at 6pm EST can be bought in to directly as well for $650, or there is a High Roller Qualifi er that runs every Friday at 8:30pm EST for $1,050.
Players can use their FPP points to enter daily satellites for either 40 FPP or 400 FPP. The 40 FPP awards one entry to the 4,000 FPP Final for every 100 players that enter. The 400 FPP awards one entry to the 4,000 FPP Final for every ten players that enter. The weekly 4000 FPP on Saturdays at 4pm EST awards three WSOP packages. PokerStars’ step series starts for as little as $7.50 or 500 FPP. Direct entry in available for any of the six steps. The top two fi nishers in each step will win entry into the next step.
TITAN POKER
Like the other sites, Titan Poker offers satellites for the Main Event but they are also offering two unique packages for players to compete for. The fi rst is a No Limit Hold’em Side Events package and the second is the World Championship of Pot Limit Omaha package. Each of these prizes includes airfare and hotel.
The Main Event package will provide the $10,000 buy-in, seven nights at the Rio Hotel, registration fees, and airfare, plus spending money. Direct buy in for the Main Event super satellite is available for $500+35, or satellite your way in via a SNG.
The No Limit Hold’em Side Events package is worth $6,000 and includes entry into two WSOP $1,500 buy-in tournaments, events 28 and 34. Direct buy in for the super satellite is available for $200+$15. The World Championship of Pot Limit Omaha package is worth $13,000 and includes entry into event 40. Direct buy in for the super satellite is available for $500+$35. SNG satellites are available for both super satellite events.
